Vince Vaughn

Here’s the thing: comparisons between Season 1 and Season 2 of True Detective are inevitable. The first season of Nic Pizzolatto’s HBO detective drama was a near-perfect character piece in which the cultish serial killer mystery was an added bonus. And although this is an anthology series, so far we only have that one season to go on. Comparing the technical aspects and general quality of Season 2 to Season 1 is fair, but there’s been a lot of complaining that the second season is downright bad (it’s not). The problem is that everyone loved that first season so much that they just instinctively want more of the same.

I feel sorry for those of you who may have made the unfortunate decision of hanging around Twitter or Facebook before watching tonight’s episode of True Detective. There’s absolutely no way you could avoid spoilers about the ending of “Night Finds You,” but if you’ve made it this far, I trust you’ve already seen the episode, which makes this a safe space to discuss what the hell just happened.

As our own Kevin Fitzpatrick noted in his early review of True Detective Season 2, impotence and masculine ideals play a huge part — both literally and thematically — in the new season, which opens a new case in California. “The Western Book of the Dead” is mostly introductory, establishing our central characters and their various troubles, as well as reinforcing the series’ gruff and grim tone.

'True Detective' Season 2 excels in quiet characterization and gorgeous visuals, but falls far short of its predecessor with a crowded and impotent central story. Our early spoiler-free review, before Sunday's Season 2 premiere on HBO!

True Detective Season 2 has managed to keep much of its core story under wraps, but with a June 21 premiere looming just one week after Game of Thrones’ Season 5 finale, HBO has uncovered several new spoilery descriptions of the next case. Find out who opens the “Western Book of the Dead” with the first synopses for True Detective Season 2 episodes!

In only two weeks the world of True Detective will expand beyond flat circles to bring us a Season 2 set in modern-day California, but will the combined talents of Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams and Taylor Kitsch live up to the legend of McConaughey and Harrelson? Two new trailers firmly invite your judgement.

Surprised though we were to see True Detective Season 2 step into the light by its first teaser, the lack of dialogue made it difficult to get a grip on the new characters. Now, HBO’s dark and dreary drama goes full-stab ahead with an intense new trailer, and vibrant set of images to match.

It’s hard to believe that True Detective Season 2 will finally arrive in just under two months, given all the secrecy surrounding the HBO followup to 2014's cultural sensation. The world we deserve has been cut in half however, as HBO reveals teasery new characters posters of each lead, while creator Nic Pizzolatto reveals some surprising new details.

True Detective Season 2 surprised us all a few weeks back with the reveal of its first teaser trailer and photos, and the latest look goes right back to cryptic, because … well, time, and you know, circles. Get the world you deserve in our first look at True Detective Season 2's new motion poster!

After months and months of waiting, True Detective Season 2 is no longer a joke! Check out the first official trailer and photos for HBO’s dark and dreary masterpiece in its second incarnation, complete with June 21 premiere!